Ephesians and “Annie”
What does Ephesians have to do with the musical and film Annie? Plenty! Bible scholars describe Ephesians as Paul’s treatise on the doctrine of the Church. A more personal way to express this is: Ephesians is our adoption papers inviting us into the Community of God’s family.
Adopted, Loved and Wanted
We commonly think of adopting infants and children, but in the 1st century some Romans adopted an adult. If you had no children, or your offspring were unworthy, you could seek a young man whom you regarded highly, groom him to your standards, and then adopt him as your heir, entrusting him with all you owned. In the Greek language, this legal action was called hyiothesia, meaning the full legal standing of an adopted male heir. Paul uses this word to describe the new Relationship God provides to every man, woman, and child who trusts in Christ —
In love he [God the Father] predestined us for adoption to sonship [hyiothesia] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves [Jesus].
Eph. 1:4-6 NIV, emphasis added
This sentence is book ended with: “in love” and “in the One he loves” — and in between we are adopted as God’s children! We are loved children! We are wanted children! – for we are adopted “in accordance with his pleasure and will” (v. 5). We were so deeply desired, that the Father sent His one and only Son to redeem us by His blood and lavish the riches of God’s grace upon us (vv. 7-8). Whether or not we ever enjoy the love of our earthly parents, when we believe in Christ’s name, we receive the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
The Preamble of Our Adoption Papers
Why does the opening of Ephesians overwhelms readers? Because it is the magnificent Preamble of Our Adoption Papers!
“Preamble” means “an initial walk-through.” However, the preamble of a legal document is no walk in the park, as we stumble over unfamiliar and confusing technical terms. We have to be patient and not tune out, because clarifying details will appear later in the document.
Similarly, in Eph. 1:3-14 Paul introduces many terms and concepts that confuse readers. His intention in the coming chapters is to revisit and clarify each theme in Fullness. That’s good to know, because we wonder what Paul means by —
- Blessed in the heavenly realms (v. 3). What are heavenly realms?
- Blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (v. 3). Sounds good! But what are they?
- For the praise of God’s glory (vv. 6, 12, & 14). That phrase sure calls for exploration.
- The riches of God’s grace are lavished upon us (vv. 7-8). If this referred to money, we would be asking, “How many zeroes?”
- The mystery of God’s will has been made known to us (v. 9). We don’t want to be out of the loop. What is this mystery?
- The phrase “in Christ” appears 10 times. What does this Relationship mean for us on a practical, personal level?
- The Holy Spirit is compared to a seal and deposit (vv. 13-14). What effects does His presence work in us?
- The repeated references to God’s will, plan, and wisdom stretch our minds.
Rest assured, Paul will delve deeper and deeper into these themes in the remainder of Ephesians, unveiling the magnificent details of Our Adoption Papers. So, let’s proceed with eagerness and wonder.
An Adoption Prayer
The Preamble in Eph. 1:3-14 is followed by an Adoption Prayer, actually the first of two Adoption Prayers in Ephesians. We get to listen in on Paul’s Conversation with God about our adoption into His family. Read it slowly, quarter-inching your way through it. Let Paul teach you how to pray.
Eph. 1:17-23 NIV
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Do we pray like this? Do we ask for what Paul prays for? Actually, Paul asks for only one thing, for awareness of what we already possess as God’s adopted children. Paul is inviting us to communicate with the Lord using similar words, so that we may utilize and enjoy all that our adoption entails. Surprisingly, this Adoption Prayer has only two petitions:
- That God the Father “may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” to know Him better (v. 17).
- “That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” to know the hope, riches, and power available to us (v. 18).
The remainder is all about what the Holy Spirit reveals to us concerning God the Father and Jesus Christ. Thus, the prayer shows us how the divine Persons of Team Trinity work in tandem. God the Father orchestrates the whole adoption enterprise, that’s why the petitions are directed to Him. The Father implements His plan through His willing and able Son, whose saving actions enable us to become the children of God. The Holy Spirit enlightens us concerning all the marvels available to God’s royal princes and princesses. Did you know that your heart has eyes? It’s not merely a figure of speech. There actually is a site within you where the Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth to you.
The Annie Factor
The focus of Paul’s adoption prayer is that we may know God in Fullness. Have you seen the musical Annie? Little orphan Annie longs to be adopted. Fortunately, Annie and her dog Sandy are invited for a short stay at the mansion of millionaire tycoon Daddy Warbucks. But Annie senses no love from him, because her visit is only a publicity stunt, a photo op. This lonely orphan wants Daddy Warbucks to know her and love her, because every child wants parents who know them and love them. Let’s call this The Annie Factor.
Human beings feel like orphans in the universe, because our sin and rebellion have separated us from God. However, because we are run-away children, The Annie Factor functions in the opposite direction, from parent to child. You see, our Relationship problem does not originate with our heavenly Father. He is no Daddy Warbucks, oblivious to children. Our Heavenly Father is Daddy Peaceheart, constantly striving to reconcile His wayward children to Himself, so that we may know Him intimately.
Riches
Paul prays that we know “the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (Eph. 1:18 NIV). This raises again the theme of inheritance as God’s adopted children. The word “riches” expresses the Fullness of God’s blessing and care. As we proceed into Ephesians, Paul will reveal more about the vast riches we have inherited, so we can draw on them Now.
Also the phrase “in his holy people” reminds us that none of us is an only child. We share the Father’s embrace with many other people. We are a big, big family of children made holy by Christ. Community is not an afterthought, or an inadvertent byproduct of our salvation. When our first parents fell into sin, not only was the relationship broken between them and God; they also fractured the social bond between themselves. This is why human beings long for Community but have great difficulty finding and maintaining healthy relationships.
The renewal of human communities filled with individuals who simultaneously love God and cherish one another is part of the salvation Christ won for us – not an accident, but God’s very plan! True Community here on earth is attractive to our love-deprived neighbors, and thus it is an essential tool for proclaiming the Gospel and demonstrating its power.
Learn more about Ephesians and Community in this post.
Dig Deeper
Why were the words Fullness, Relationship, Team Trinity, Conversation, and Community highlighted in the paragraphs you just read? Because they are among the 10 building blocks of life in Christ, which author Phil Bickel explores in the 133-page ebook Fullness or Fraction in Ephesians: Our Adoption Papers.
The post you just read is an excerpt from this book. To learn more you may:
- Read this brief outline of the ebook.
- Download a free copy at the Faith Trekker Store.
- Learn about “FULLNESS or Fraction”.
